Malden High School - Maldonian Yearbook (Malden, MA)

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EUNICE YOUNG Page 41

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THE MALDONIAN (SUasa iftatarg Irene Hurwitz We have a past blit not a dark one. On the contrary, we have many highlights in our history, such as scholastic stars and athletic meteors. The moon, too, has aided many a Senior on occasion. So, you see, our History is a brilliant one with various il¬ luminations. The morning of February 3, 1922 was cold and rainy, but the new Freshmen of the school slept peacefully on in their trundle beds. Although even the Seniors had to arise at 7:00 o’clock, the Fresh¬ men had the wintry morning in which to sleep. WE were not required to be in school until the, afternoon. This state of affairs was due to the fact that the school committee had decided that we, the Class of 1926-A, had need of the entire building. Our class was the first to initiate the afternoon-school system. It was a new experience that the authorities were attempting and our class proved its merits beyond a shadow of a doubt. In spite of the fact that we were not due until one o’clock, by noon¬ time we had gathered in the Assembly Hall of the Malden High School as Freshmen of that awe-inspiring institution. We marched in, two by two, the little girls with their long hair and the little boys with their short trousers. Quietly, very quietly, we found seats in the auditorium and trembled violently when Mr. Jenkins stepped upon the platform to give us our first directions. He spoke slowly, repeating for us the, complicated instructions and assigned us to home rooms. From the first, the Class of 1926-A was high up in the life of the school. Our home rooms were all on the third floor. Our first day in Malden High School we spent in signing our names and writing the date countless numbers of times. The second day we wandered away from our haven, the third floor, and became entangled in the maze of rooms on the second floor. The third day we asked Mr. Jen¬ kins who the headmaster was, and the fourth day we were exhausted with over study. Little by little, however, our brilliancy began to gleam through the Freshmen exterior. We learned that 317 could be entered by a rear door, that Mr. Nash and Mr. Wilson were not one and the same person, and that football was played in the fall. We carried all our books home and listened eagerly to every word of the teachers. The last ranking period of the semester, Class I led the Honor Roll of the School. By June 1922 we were full-fledged members of M. H. S. Our first summer vacation while in High School, we spent telling everyone that we were going to school in the morning. Class II! In the morning! We felt ourselves all-important. We did not fear the Sophomores because during our apprenticeship in Class I, we had learned everything about the school. Again we were installed in third floor home rooms which we occupied with a special air of posses¬ sion leaving spit-balls and gum-wads in the desks to prove it. We carried home fewer books, report cards became a matter of course, teachers be¬ came less formidable, athletics became interesting, and we gained repre- Page 40

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THE MALDONIAN sentation on the school paper. In “Twelfth Night”, the school play of that year, Maude Orton, a member of the Class of 1926-A, shone as one of the stars. The most startling performance of our semester in Class II was that of Ranald Hobbs. Without any fear whatsoever, he came to class one day wearing his first pair of long trousers, a deed which pointed out distinctly the bravery latent in our class. Mr. Ellis, who tried to teach us algebra at that time, said to Hobbs on that important day, “This is a long day for you isn’t it?” We did not laugh. We sympathized. Then came that magic, mysterious period of time which took us from the baby realm of Freshmen and placed us in the haughty, glittering kingdom of Sophomores with home rooms on the first floor—near the Seniors. Our wavering brilliancy now resolved itself into a steady gleam. Of the names which appeared on the Honor Roll for the third month of the semester, Class III ranked first. The class, therefore, agreed that such an occasion was worthy of due celebration, and so we had our first class party. The usual weather of Class-Party nights prevailed by sending down torrents of drenching rain. However, our party was scheduled for eight o’clock, and the dark ominous clouds witheld their watery ovations until eight-thirty as befitting such a great event. Indoors all was merry ex¬ cept occasional remarks such as these: “Why didn’t I take an umbrella?” “What will happen to the curl in my hair?” But lo! The rain in deference to the Class of 1926-A stopped at ten o’clock whereas our party was not over until eleven. Another summer vacation! We began it the week before school closed and continued it a week after school reopened. Lofty Sophomores of Class IV! That was advancement! Early in the semester we elected class officers. Ralph Hirtle was chosen President, an office which he has held for two and one half years. He is now reaping his just reward by sitting in the middle of the front row and announcing our program. Class IV also gave us our first plunge into musical education. Miss Perkins, with dauntless courage, gathered together Classes IV and V for a Tuesday morning chorus. Our genius was discovered. Reta Davis be¬ came our Prima Donna. Perhaps our harmonies inspired the Class, for again Class IV came out at the head of the Honor Roll. The February week-end between Classes IV and V was interminably long. On Monday, however, we became Juniors, witty and wise. We plunged into the orations of Cicero with zest—for a little while. We fussed in the laboratory with sulphuric acid and hydrogen. We read humorous essays and laughed at the right time. But no member of the Class of 1926-A can forget the great event of the semester. The incident in itself was not important. It did not affect the rest of the school, but upon it depended the future of the, Class of 1926-A. With the departure of Miss Hall, we had been left without an advisor, and the appointment of Mr. Matthews as our faculty mentor added the last touch of brilliancy to our shining history. Summer again! Swimming! Motoring! School again! Class VI! Athletics was claiming our attention now. Holland Pittock of our Class was elected Captain of the football team, Hirtle was on the squad, and Jim Mangan was already training his toe. The girls were attacking football heroes. We became enamoured of sports. New talents were discovered. We went far afield and took a hand in dramatics. For the school play, Ranald Hobbs, Fred Nash, Reta Davis, and Stanley McLellan were chosen from among our stars. Class VI! The hallowed rooms! The dignified demeanor, the soph- Page 42